Mandl, Irene

This overview report synthesizes and compares industrial policy capacity within nine European case study regions which have been analysed as part of the pilot project Future of Manufacturing in Europe.

Although standard employment is still dominant in European labour markets, an increasing range of new employment forms is emerging that differ in their implications for working conditions. This study explores strategic employee sharing, an employment form for companies that have specific HR needs that do not justify a permanent full-time position, but are often recurring, by hiring one or several workers who work on assignments, and whose skills and time are shared among a group of companies.

The European Restructuring Monitor (ERM) annual report for 2015 explores the issue of job creation in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). SMEs are increasingly recognised as a job engine for Europe. However, given the heterogeneity of the vast SME population, not all contribute equally to employment growth. This study seeks to identify which SME types are more or less dynamic job creators and to determine their main drivers and barriers for job creation.

Across Europe, new forms of employment are emerging that are different from traditional standard or non-standard employment in a number of ways. Some transform the relationship between employer and employee, some change work organisation and work patterns, and some do both. This report identifies nine forms of employment that are new or have become increasingly important in Europe since the year 2000.

While restructuring is increasingly acknowledged as an inherent characteristic of economic development and receives substantial policy attention at European and Member State level, the regional perspective on it is rarely discussed. However, most large-scale restructurings affect the regions and employment areas where they take place, not just the company and its employees. Based on secondary data analysis, a literature review and five in-depth case studies, this research project aims to identify the effects of large-scale restructuring at regional level. It also describes examples of successful regional management directed at maintaining and improving labour markets and living conditions following an important restructuring event.

The 2013 annual report from the European Restructuring Monitor (ERM) presents a retrospective of over a decade of measuring the impact of large-scale restructuring activity in Europe. Based on a database containing details of over 16,000 large-scale restructuring events– each generally involving at least 100 job losses or gains – it paints a picture of restructuring trends across the EU Member States. The report sets out to compare activity in the period leading up to the economic and financial crisis (2003–2008) with the post-crisis period (2008–2013), in order to identify changes in restructuring practices and to pinpoint the sectors that have been disproportionately affected, in employment terms, by the global recession. Also included is a critical assessment of all ERM activities, including the two newer policy-oriented databases: public support instruments and restructuring legislation. Finally, the report places the spotlight on the phenomenon of offshoring, charting the decline in offshoring activity by European firms since the onset of the crisis.

Restructuring is part and parcel of the economic fabric in Europe, as companies must adapt to altered conditions in a bid to remain sustainable and competitive. Most of the policy focus so far, however, has been on restructuring in terms of the large firm. In light of the relative importance of the small and medium-sized company (SME) – constituting over 99% of European businesses and about 66% of private sector employment – policymakers at all levels need to understand the specific challenges facing the smaller firm in order to provide appropriate support for this backbone of the European economy.

Across Europe, restructuring in SMEs receives less public attention than large-scale restructuring. However, the recent economic crisis has sharpened policy focus in this area. The current discussion centres around the anticipation of change and individual forms of restructuring – particularly business expansion and internal restructuring – with the accent on business rather than labour market issues. A wide range of supports for SMEs and their employees in restructuring is available – either as part of the support provided for all restructurings, or specifically targeted at SMEs and their employees.

Based on information derived from 85 case studies across all EU Member States and other sources, the project outlines the features peculiar to SMEs in their anticipation and management of restructuring, explores the main drivers of change and analyses the factors influencing successful restructuring. It offers some insight into how restructuring impacts on workers and the company itself and sets out several policy pointers for future action. This is the country report for Germany.

Based on information derived from 85 case studies across all EU Member States and other sources, the project outlines the features peculiar to SMEs in their anticipation and management of restructuring, explores the main drivers of change and analyses the factors influencing successful restructuring. It offers some insight into how restructuring impacts on workers and the company itself and sets out several policy pointers for future action. This is the country report for Austria.